I recently bought a new car, my first electric one. Well it’s PHEV so we can plug it in and be 100% electric on the island but have hybrid capabilities as well. It’s something I’ve been thinking about and researching for a few years now. Originating from a concern for the environment and wanting to do my bit but that alone wasn’t enough to make this happen. Moving to Waiheke, the increased fuel costs and incentivised by government rebates finally made this happen. It’s got me thinking. Why wasn’t the concern for the environment enough, why aren’t our good intentions alone always enough to force us into action. Whilst the good intentions give us the idea, the impetus to follow through often comes from consequences (like fuel prices on Waiheke), peer pressure (everyone else is doing it) or some kind of incentive (clean car rebates).

If we use another example, like eating healthily or exercising regularly. We all know it’s good for us and we all know we’d be better off doing it but often it’s other factors combined with these good intentions that push us into action. A health scare, a free membership or my friend just lost 10kg.

So what goals are you considering? Where do you have good intentions that haven’t manifest themselves into action yet? What have you been thinking about doing but not quite got there yet? Where are the opportunities to add some incentives or consequences to make that decision easier to make. Is it spending more time with the family, getting healthy? Setting better boundaries at work? Saying no and evening out the workload at home? Maybe it’s a trip you’ve been meaning to take or hobby you’d like to pursue now the kids are older? Sometimes combining those good intentions with some consequences and incentives help us make them happen.

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